Love goes for 30 and 21 to lead Monday’s S&Ds

Only two days after a career-best 51-point scoring game, Love followed it up with 30 points and 21 rebounds to lead Minnesota’s 117-100 victory over Denver.

“I think we used to call him kind of a poor man’s Larry Bird,” Denver coach George Karl told the Associated Press. “I think you can take ‘poor man’s’ off that comparison now. His ability to rebound is incredible and his offensive tools and skills are growing.”

It was Love’s seventh career 30-point, 20-rebound game. During his career, the feat has been accomplished only 11 times by the rest of the league, with Dwight Howard with three the next closest during that span.

And it was Love’s ninth 30-15 effort this season. Joe Smith is the only other NBA player who has accomplished that feat more than once this season. Smith has done it twice.